It's hard to believe how quickly this year has passed. In 2024, horror movie fans experienced a unique mix of scares and laughs as filmmakers explored the lighter side of fear. Of course, you still had your straight jump-out-of-your-seat frights with movies such as Terrifier 3, Oddity, Smile 2, A Quiet Place: Day One, In a Violent Nature, The First Omen, etc.
But some of the best horror films of 2024 were the ones that had a little lighthearted fun. The ones that didn't take themselves too seriously and were full of laugh-out-loud moments. There are four specific movies from this year that stood out for blending humor and horror in a way that was both thrilling and amusing. They were actually funny and managed to turn traditional horror tropes on their head, making us laugh just as much as they made us jump. What are they, you ask? Don't worry! We shared the names of all four below.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Where to watch: Max
Just because a movie is billed as a horror comedy, that doesn't always mean that it'll end up being funny. I've seen my fair share of horror comedies that leaned way more into their horror elements than their comedic ones. However, this wasn't the case for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
This movie is genuinely funny, which shouldn't be that surprising, as the original 1988 film was just as entertaining. Most of its humor comes from the title character, the mischievous and unpredictable ghost Beetlejuice. His dark sense of humor and outrageous behavior make everything he says and does come off as hilariously over-the-top, keeping the tone light and funny. The bizarre situations that the quirky characters in the movie find themselves in also make it comical.
Remember that random musical number at the end of the film? That's one particular scene from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice that's still stuck in my mind, and I chuckle a bit every time I think about it.
Abigail
Where to watch: Prime Video
A movie about a bloodthirsty vampire terrorizing and then taking people out one by one is usually supposed to be scary, right? Not Abigail. Abigail is a campy and playful horror film. Yes, it has its jump scares that'll make you hop out of your seat, but it's more funny than anything. You have what's supposed to be a terrifying villain toying with her victims by performing ballet sequences in a tutu before killing them. How could you not laugh at this?
The interactions between the other characters when they find out what they're up against are also hilarious. One of my favorite scenes in the movie, which I found really laughable, was the scene where Kathryn Newton's Sammy character breaks out into dance after offing someone. The randomness of it all is what got me!
It's What's Inside
Where to watch: Netflix
From just the movie's unique concept, I knew there would be many moments in the film that had me laughing out loud. You have a group of old friends who reunite for one of their own's pre-wedding party. Nothing bad should happen, right? Wrong! An old classmate is also invited to the party, and they bring a body swap machine with them. Oh no, that can't be good. The classmate suggests they play a game with the machine. He makes it seem like no harm will be done by playing with it, but that turns out not to be true because the night soon spirals into a state of existential turmoil.
As the characters' mental states unravel, they start questioning each other and themselves. This leads to confusion, mistrust, and heightened tension between them. Honestly, the absurdity of the situation is what makes It's What's Inside funny.
Your Monster
Where to watch: Available to rent or purchase on digital platforms
Your Monster isn't really a scary movie at all. I'd say it leans more into its comedy side, with Tommy Dewey's friendly Monster character making the more serious moments light. I enjoyed the way the Monster and Melissa Barrera's Laura character riffed off each other throughout the film, especially at the beginning when they both couldn't stand each other.
I had watched Barrera in Abigail, so I knew that she could be funny if a role required it. But after watching her in Your Monster, I want to see her in more horror comedies. She's definitely got the acting chops for it! Dewey has been in many comedy projects in the past, so I wasn't surprised by his performance. I was already familiar with his comedic abilities.